The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-13

INDIGNANT nAeIsrRATEs.
As will be seen from the thirteen
names voting no, they are gentlemen
noted for thorough Investigation be-
fore appropriating public money.
They fought the measure %sIubbornly
throughout. Justice John j. Barry,
who was absent FROM the court, hold.
ing an inquest q, the time the award
was rassed, gave vent TO his feelings
az follows:
81 think il one Of the most glaring
outrsges ever p~erpetrated upon Shelby
county. They have been three years
trying 10 vote money TO bhild a levse
out there, and II has been voted down
repeatedly. II II had been a worthy
object, the result would have been
otherwise long ago. Nothing daunted,
those interested have kept hammer
ing away at it, until ct last they have
succeeded. Daring my connection
with the county, l have clearly seen
that there are two elements arrayed
against each other. One Is always op.
posed to any useless expenditure Of
public funds, and the other Is those
indirectly interested In the direction
taken by the practical benefits. /
went out where II 10 proposed to build
this very levee about three months
ago and had 10 travel about one mule
and a quarter in q skiff. There was
an average depth OF water the entire
distance Of over tw elve feet, backed
up from the Mississippi. The cost OF
protecting thst district from overflow
will be iully $4,000 instead Of $4,000,
the sum voted, and consequently that
amount, II expended, will be thrown
away unless the difference 10 voted ~
some future day. There is only n
moderate amount Of travel over the
road anyhow, not over five wagons a
day on an average, and there need be
none, as other loads are convenient.
The Randolph road runs near by, is
continually travelled, and Is a splendid
thorou hfare with the exception OF O
few bad places. To remedy these de-
fscts no appropriation has been asked
II we had the money to spare 1t
could be expended on other roads
more prof ably than the Hind
man Ferry. Ii ia "a much Rs We can
do, however, to pay for the recent
repairs on the Jail and other matters
requiring attention. II we keep on
with this class Of appropriations,
county scrip will soon tumble rs low
as 90 cents, and more bonds will have
to be issued to raise money. The way
the people interested in having the
mt asure passed worked it, 10 I Is;
They were always on hand, and thor.
oughly familiar with the views OF u Q
members In attendance Yesterday
they counted noses, saw a favorable
opportunity and worked II through on
snap judgment. II the County Cou,t
will now count noses, and there are
not enough magistrates to rescind the
the action Of yesterday. then the peo
pie Of Shelby county should step in
and secure a permanent injunction.
Several CT the magistrates refused to
vote on the proposition, some OF them
ever leaving the room. II a magis-
trate has not courage to vote on q
measure OF that Importance, then he
is unworthy OF q seat in the County
Court. l have never yet been able to
find anything in the neighborhood to
which the money has been voted, that
justified the outlay Of s1000. much less
$4,000. II the levee is built, 1t will
only result In the overflow of other
property, and probably involve the
county 10 suits Tor heavy damages"